Out Thailand
Illustration of Koh Lipe, Thailand

Diving Koh Lipe: Dive Sites, Shops, Courses and Prices

Last updated 2026-07-08

On this page

TL;DR: Koh Lipe is the diving base for Tarutao National Marine Park, with more than 20 sites in easy reach and a proper cluster of PADI and SSI dive shops on the island. The signature sites are Stonehenge (soft-coral pinnacles at 5-25m, great for macro and photography, home to seahorses and the odd leopard shark) and 8 Mile Rock (a deep advanced pinnacle known for leopard sharks and occasional whale sharks). Rough 2026 prices: a fun dive is about ฿1,500-1,600, sliding cheaper on multi-dive packages; a two-tank boat trip runs roughly ฿3,000; Discover Scuba is about ฿2,700-4,000; the Open Water course is about ฿14,500-16,000 and Advanced Open Water about ฿12,000-13,000. On top you pay the ฿200 (US$6) Tarutao park fee, plus a per-day diving fee in the park. Best season is November to April for calm seas and up to 30m visibility, water 27-30C. All prices ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026).

Koh Lipe does not get talked about like the Similans or Koh Tao, which is part of the appeal: it sits inside Tarutao National Marine Park in Thailand’s far south, and its dive sites see a fraction of the traffic of the big-name spots. There are more than 20 sites within a short boat ride, a couple of genuinely excellent pinnacles, and a settled group of dive shops running everything from first try-dives to technical wreck trips. This guide covers the best sites, the shops, real 2026 course and fun-dive prices, the marine life you can expect, and when to come. Every figure below is checked against current dive-operator listings and PADI dive-site pages, sourced at the end. Prices vary between shops, so treat them as a guide and confirm directly.

The best dive sites around Koh Lipe

Stonehenge and 8 Mile Rock are the two sites everyone comes for, backed up by a spread of easier reef and wall dives.

  • Stonehenge: The signature site, a cluster of granite pinnacles draped in soft coral in pink, purple and white, at roughly 5-25m. It is a macro and photography favourite, with seahorses, ghost pipefish, gobies and the occasional leopard shark among the boulders, and schools of barracuda and snapper passing through. It is accessible to Open Water divers, but currents can be moderate to strong around the full and new moon, so it is not always a beginner cruise.
  • 8 Mile Rock: A deep pinnacle named for lying about eight miles offshore, rising from the sea floor to around 12-15m at the top. It is an advanced site because of the depth and current, and it is the area’s best shot at big stuff: leopard sharks, barracuda and trevally schools, and the occasional whale shark.
  • Koh Yang, Koh Talang and Koh Adang: Easier, sheltered reef and wall dives good for less experienced divers and training, with turtles, seahorses, moray eels, rays and plenty of reef fish.
  • Yong Hua wreck: A fishing vessel lying on its side at around 42-45m, strictly for technical and very experienced divers.

Koh Lipe dive prices compared

ItemRough 2026 priceNote
Single fun dive฿1,500-1,600 (US$45-48)Cheaper per dive on multi-dive packages
Two-tank boat trip~฿3,000 (US$91)Varies by shop
Discover Scuba (try dive)฿2,700-4,000 (US$82-121)For uncertified beginners; 1-2 dives
Open Water course฿14,500-16,000 (US$439-485)~3-4 days, full certification
Advanced Open Water฿12,000-13,000 (US$364-394)Needed for deeper sites like 8 Mile Rock
Equipment extrasDive computer ~฿300/day, nitrox ~฿300Underwater camera ~฿1,000/day

The ฿200 (US$6) Tarutao park entrance fee plus a per-day diving fee inside the park are additional. Prices compiled from Koh Lipe dive-shop listings; see Sources. Confirm current rates directly, as they vary between operators.

Dive shops on Koh Lipe

There is a proper cluster of PADI and SSI dive centres on the island, so you have real choice rather than a single monopoly operator. The main names are Ko Lipe Diving School (a large PADI 5-star centre), Davy Jones’ Locker (a long-established PADI 5-star dive resort), Adang Sea Divers (a well-regarded SSI and PADI eco-centre) and Forra Dive Resort (one of the oldest shops on the island). All run the full range, from Discover Scuba try-dives and Open Water courses to Advanced training and daily fun dives, and several dive from both spacious boats and traditional longtails. Prices, group sizes and course inclusions differ between them, so it pays to compare a couple directly and read recent reviews before booking.

Courses: from first dive to certified

You do not need to be certified to get in the water, but you do to reach the best sites. For a first taste, a PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience takes uncertified beginners on a shallow guided dive after a short briefing for about ฿2,700-4,000, depending on the shop and whether it is one or two dives. To dive independently, the Open Water course runs about ฿14,500-16,000 and takes roughly three to four days, and it qualifies you for sites like Stonehenge. If you want the deeper sites, the Advanced Open Water course adds about ฿12,000-13,000 and opens up 8 Mile Rock and other deeper pinnacles. Because the island is small and the shops are used to running courses back to back, it is a decent, low-pressure place to learn.

Marine life you can expect

Leopard sharks and seahorses are the reliable highlights; whale sharks are a lucky bonus. Leopard sharks (also called zebra sharks) are often seen resting on the sand at Stonehenge and 8 Mile Rock, and the soft-coral pinnacles are full of macro life: several colour morphs of seahorse, ghost pipefish, gobies, nudibranchs and crabs. On the reefs and walls you will see turtles, moray eels, cuttlefish, barracuda, snapper and rays. Whale sharks do pass through and are sometimes encountered at 8 Mile Rock, but sightings are unpredictable and the reported best months vary, so treat any whale shark as a stroke of luck rather than a reason to book.

When is the best time to dive?

November to April is the prime window, with calm seas, visibility up to around 30m and water at roughly 27-30C. This is the dry high season, when all the shops are open and conditions are most reliable. During the June to October monsoon the sea gets rougher, visibility drops and some sites and operators wind down, though a few shops keep running year-round and point out that the wind reversal can actually calm certain east-side sites like Stonehenge in the green season. For the most dependable conditions and the widest choice of sites and operators, plan your diving for the November-to-April high season. Note that the park also runs a phased seasonal closure of some outer islands in the low-season months.

Honest downsides

  • The best site is advanced. 8 Mile Rock’s depth and current put it out of reach for beginners, so newer divers are limited to Stonehenge and the easier reefs.
  • Currents can be strong. Even Stonehenge kicks up around the big tides, so check conditions and your own comfort level before booking.
  • It is not the Similans. The diving is very good for the region and pleasantly uncrowded, but it is not the world-class coral of Thailand’s most famous sites.
  • Prices vary and shift. Rates differ between shops and are not always dated online, so confirm the current price and what is included before you commit.
  • Season matters. The best conditions are November to April; low-season diving is possible but rougher, with fewer operators and some sites closed.

Bottom line

Koh Lipe is a quietly excellent place to dive: Stonehenge for soft coral and macro life, 8 Mile Rock for the deep, shark-y stuff, and a settled group of PADI and SSI shops to choose from. Budget about ฿1,500-1,600 for a fun dive or ฿14,500-16,000 to certify, add the ฿200 park fee and the per-day diving fee, and come between November and April for the clearest water. If you are not certified, a Discover Scuba dive is a cheap way to try it. Round out your trip with our things to do in Koh Lipe guide, pair diving with easy reef time using the Koh Lipe beaches guide, sort your arrival with how to get to Koh Lipe, and check what’s on while you are down south.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best dive sites around Koh Lipe?

The two headline sites are Stonehenge and 8 Mile Rock. Stonehenge is a cluster of soft-coral pinnacles at roughly 5-25m, superb for macro life like seahorses and ghost pipefish and accessible to Open Water divers, though currents can be strong on big tides. 8 Mile Rock is a deep pinnacle about eight miles offshore, an advanced site known for leopard sharks, barracuda and the occasional whale shark. Beyond those, sites like Koh Yang, Koh Talang and Koh Adang offer easier, sheltered dives with turtles, seahorses and rays, and there is a deep wreck, the Yong Hua, for technical divers.

How much does diving cost in Koh Lipe in 2026?

A single fun dive runs about ฿1,500-1,600, dropping toward ฿1,400 per dive when you book a multi-dive package, and a two-tank boat trip is roughly ฿3,000 at some shops. A first-timer Discover Scuba experience costs about ฿2,700-4,000 depending on the operator and how many dives are included. The Open Water certification course runs about ฿14,500-16,000 and Advanced Open Water about ฿12,000-13,000. On top of any of these you pay the ฿200 (US$6) Tarutao park entrance fee plus a per-day diving fee charged inside the park. Prices vary between shops, so confirm directly.

Do you need to be certified to dive in Koh Lipe?

Not for a first try. Most Koh Lipe dive shops run a PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience for uncertified beginners, where an instructor takes you on a shallow guided dive after a short briefing, for about ฿2,700-4,000. To dive independently and reach the better sites, you need an Open Water certification, which you can complete on the island in around three to four days for about ฿14,500-16,000. Sites like Stonehenge are open to Open Water divers, while the deeper 8 Mile Rock needs an Advanced certification and some experience.

When is the best time to dive Koh Lipe?

November to April is the prime season, with calm seas, the clearest water (visibility up to around 30m) and water temperatures of roughly 27-30C. During the June to October monsoon, seas get rougher, visibility drops and some sites and operators wind down, though a few shops keep running and argue that the wind reversal can actually calm certain east-side sites in the green season. For the most reliable conditions and the widest choice of sites, plan your diving trip for the November-to-April window.

Can you see whale sharks or leopard sharks diving Koh Lipe?

Leopard sharks (also called zebra sharks) are the more reliable sighting, often resting on the sand around sites like Stonehenge and 8 Mile Rock. Whale sharks do pass through and are sometimes seen at 8 Mile Rock, but they are a lucky encounter rather than a guarantee, and reports on the best months for them vary, so treat any whale shark sighting as a bonus. You will more consistently see seahorses, ghost pipefish, turtles, barracuda, cuttlefish and plenty of reef fish across the area's sites.

Which dive shops operate on Koh Lipe?

There is a solid cluster of dive centres on the island. Ko Lipe Diving School is a large PADI 5-star centre, Davy Jones' Locker is a long-established PADI 5-star dive resort, Adang Sea Divers is a well-regarded SSI and PADI eco-centre, and Forra Dive Resort is one of the oldest shops on the island. All run courses from beginner to advanced plus daily fun dives. Prices and course inclusions vary between them, so it is worth comparing a couple directly and checking recent reviews before you book.

Is diving Koh Lipe better than snorkelling?

They suit different people. Diving reaches deeper sites like Stonehenge and 8 Mile Rock with bigger marine life and needs certification for the best spots, so it costs more and takes more commitment. Snorkelling around Koh Lipe is genuinely good too, with healthy shallow reefs and soft coral you can reach on a cheap half-day tour or even off the beach. If you already dive, the sites here are a worthwhile add-on to a beach trip; if you don't, the snorkelling alone justifies the visit, and you can always try a Discover Scuba dive to see if you like it.

Out Thailand Team

Based in Chiang Mai

The Out Thailand team lives in and around Chiang Mai and writes practical, on-the-ground guides to events, cost of living, and daily life in Thailand.